Title - Metro rushes to meet deadline

Bengaluru:  With 2012 ending, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is left with just one more year to launch 42.3 km of Phase-1 Metro Rail network.

Namma Metro has called for tenders for architectural finish and landscaping of underground stations.

“Bids have been invited for architectural finishing and hard landscaping works at the underground stations at the Central College and City Railway Station in East-West corridor.

“The estimated cost involved is Rs 30 crore. Interested contractors may submit the tender as sole contractors or in joint venture, partnership or consortium. The works will include internal and external site development for the two underground stations,” a senior BMRCL official said.

Tunneling in the underground section of the East-West corridor is progressing fast. Both the tunnels between Majestic and Sir M. Visvesvaraya station have been completed. Tunnel Boaring Machine 1 (Helen) and TBM2 (Margarita) have started tunneling between M. Visvesvaraya Station towards Vidhana Soudha station.

Helen has progressed up to 666 m and Margarita up to 426 m. TBM 3 between Cubbon Park and East Ramp has finished work.

It is said Helen is progressing fast towards Vidhana Soudha and would break out of ground shortly.

“In the underground North- South metro corridor, of the three TBMs required for the project, two machines have already arrived. One TBM (Kaveri) has started tunneling between South Ramp and City Market Station and has progressed up to 35 metre. The assembling of other TBM is in progress at South Ramp,” he said.

Meanwhile, excavation work has started at the underground Majestic interchange station. Temporary road decking work at Dharmambudi Road and Gubbi Thotadappa Road is in progress.